The Catechesis of the
Good Shepherd Program

The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational prin-ciples of Maria Montessori. Children gather in an “atrium," a room prepared for them, which contains simple yet beautiful materials that they use.

The atrium is the name that describes our classroom. It is a carefully prepared environment where children can foster their relationship with God. It is a spiritual place more like a retreat center than a classroom. Shelves around the room are filled with natural materials that appeal to the child’s senses.

The child’s experience in the atrium helps to prepare them for involvement in the larger worshipping community. Some refer to the atrium as a place for conversation with God.

Where do I take my child?

3 years* - Kindergarten - Atrium of the GoodShepherd (*By August 31, 2007)
This atrium is on the ground floor, directly under the Great Hall.

1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades - Atrium of the True Vine
This atrium is on the ground floor, directly under the Great Hall.

4th and 5th Grades - Atrium of the Kingdom
This atrium is on the ground floor, and can be seen through the courtyard windows.

You might wonder how “materials” can enhance the religious life of a child. If, for example, you hear a beautiful passage from the Bible, you may find the same passage and read the words again slowly to more completely appreciate and understand them. You may think deeply about the words and speak to God in a prayer about them. But a little child, especially one too young to read, needs another way. In the atrium that child can ponder the biblical passages or liturgical prayers presented to them by working with the materials provided for that text – placing wooden figures of sheep and shepherd in the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd, setting figures, representing the apostles, around a Last Supper table, exploring The City of Jerusalem, in miniature, or preparing a small altar with tiny replicas of the same articles we use at Eucharist.

Older children can chose from copying parables from the Bible, laying (in order) written prayers from the rite of Baptism, planning a liturgy, discovering what their spiritual gifts may be, preparing a personal missal, or exploring, discovering and labeling a time-line showing the history of the kingdom of God.

These classes meet during the Sunday school hour, from 10:00 am-10:50 am.

For more information about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, please visit www.cgsusa.org.

 

110 West Hawthorne Road

Birmingham Alabama 35209

Voice: (205) 879-8651

Fax: (205) 870-5749

www.allsaintsbirmingham.org